Port Canaveral/Cocoa Beach restaurants

[timmy1958]

We will be staying in Port Canaveral in June pre-cruise.  Any restaurant suggestions for dinner?  Thanks in advance!  

[SteerageJoe]

Plenty of options but where are you staying? do you have a car? Walking distance from hotel? willing to Uber?

[Diver2014]

We like Fishlips Bar and Grill at the port, near Pier 1.  Right on the water.  Watch the ships go out on weekends, front row seat.  Any of the restaurants along the waterfront are pretty good but you have to make reservations or wait an hour or so.

[Sand and Seas]

2 hours ago, Diver2014 said:

We like Fishlips Bar and Grill at the port, near Pier 1.  Right on the water.  Watch the ships go out on weekends, front row seat.  Any of the restaurants along the waterfront are pretty good but you have to make reservations or wait an hour or so.

This sounds like a great suggestion-  Thanks!

[timmy1958]

On 4/9/2023 at 10:32 AM, SteerageJoe said:

Plenty of options but where are you staying? do you have a car? Walking distance from hotel? willing to Uber?

Staying at the Homewood Suites Port Canaveral.  Willing to Uber or cab it somewhere.  

[timmy1958]

On 4/9/2023 at 5:34 PM, Diver2014 said:

We like Fishlips Bar and Grill at the port, near Pier 1.  Right on the water.  Watch the ships go out on weekends, front row seat.  Any of the restaurants along the waterfront are pretty good but you have to make reservations or wait an hour or so.

I’ll have to look into that place, thanks!  

[SteerageJoe]

20 minutes ago, timmy1958 said:

Staying at the Homewood Suites Port Canaveral.  Willing to Uber or cab it somewhere.  

 

Good choice! you are surrounded by 3 very good spots just a short walk away!

Preacher Bar is unique, Thai Thai is excellent and Zarella's is very popular.

 

If you can get to the Port between 4 and 5 (to watch the ships) then Grills has the best food IMO but Fishlips and the others are good too. Seafood Atlantic has the best fresh seafood if you want to avoid fried options but it is not a traditional restaurant. Peep inside before committing.

Once the ships are gone, Rising Tide is worth a serious look.

 

Then there is Cocoa Beach. If you want a more upscale evening (I say this with a wink because the whole island is very relaxed) Uber down to Florida's Fresh Grill - make a reservation. 

 

Edited April 10, 2023 by SteerageJoe

[GTO-Girl]

On 4/9/2023 at 10:16 AM, timmy1958 said:

We will be staying in Port Canaveral in June pre-cruise.  Any restaurant suggestions for dinner?  Thanks in advance!  

in addition to Grills and Fishlips we also love Kelsey’s.  They have great pizza and salads but also some of the best Italian!!  It is just down the street from Homewood Suites…..next door to the Radisson and in the same complex as Preacher Bar (also one of our favorites)

[TravelBluebird]

17 hours ago, SteerageJoe said:

Good choice! you are surrounded by 3 very good spots just a short walk away!

Preacher Bar is unique, Thai Thai is excellent and Zarella's is very popular.

 

If you can get to the Port between 4 and 5 (to watch the ships) then Grills has the best food IMO but Fishlips and the others are good too. Seafood Atlantic has the best fresh seafood if you want to avoid fried options but it is not a traditional restaurant. Peep inside before committing.

Once the ships are gone, Rising Tide is worth a serious look.

 

Then there is Cocoa Beach. If you want a more upscale evening (I say this with a wink because the whole island is very relaxed) Uber down to Florida's Fresh Grill - make a reservation. 

 

Al great suggestions! We love Fishlips and Grills, just because we love to watch the ships go by…starts the vacation early! Also good to get there early for seats; can get very crowded with long waits.

[Boozy O Croozy]

Preacher Bar is excellent.

 

https://preacherbar.com/

[Buckeyefrank100]

We loved Branos Italian Grill in Cocoa Beach

[SkiPro62]

Can't go wrong with what's been posted so far.

My opinions:

Best at the port: Grills

Best Food: Luna Kahuna - Cocoa Beach

Best Fine Dining Experience: Fat Snook - way at the far end of Cocoa Beach

Best Cheap Eats: Papa Vito's - Cape Canaveral

Best Place We Always End Up At Cause We Can't Decide on Anywhere Else: Sage Bistro - Cape Canaveral

And answering the questions that were not asked:

Best Lunch: Vargas - Cape Canaveral (tiny place, you may have to eat your cubano in the parking lot), Best Breakfast: Simply Delicious - Cocoa Beach, Best Beach Bar: Sandbar Sports Grill - Cocoa Beach (good vibes, can't vouch for the food)

[cruisegirl1976]

Sandbar Sports Grill - Cocoa Beach (good vibes, can't vouch for the food)

 

Food is really good, and the atmosphere is pretty good!

[disneyfan551]

On 5/31/2023 at 9:01 AM, cruisegirl1976 said:

Sandbar Sports Grill - Cocoa Beach (good vibes, can't vouch for the food)

 

Food is really good, and the atmosphere is pretty good!

We ate there a few years ago, before a cruise. It was great, loved the fish tacos!  Everyone in our large group loved their meals. It’s right on the beach, and pretty rough looking, but the food made up for it! 

[GaTechCruiser]

There will be 5 ladies next Thursday night staying at the Holiday Inn Vacation Club.  We will have a rental car.  We will be celebrating a birthday - what is a good restaurant on the water that would have "non fried" seafood?  Any other suggestion for on the water restaurant that is not "beach bar food"?

 

[starfirelb]

We ate at Cocoa Beach Ale House. Great food.

[crewsweeper]

On 7/20/2023 at 5:22 PM, GaTechCruiser said:

There will be 5 ladies next Thursday night staying at the Holiday Inn Vacation Club.  We will have a rental car.  We will be celebrating a birthday - what is a good restaurant on the water that would have "non fried" seafood?  Any other suggestion for on the water restaurant that is not "beach bar food"?

 

Any of the restaurants along the channel like FishLips and Grills will have broiled or baked seafood options.

 

As far as Florida Fresh Grill mentioned above.  "Then there is Cocoa Beach. If you want a more upscale evening (I say this with a wink because the whole island is very relaxed) Uber down to Florida's Fresh Grill - make a reservation".  It's not on the water and you have to call after 2PM on the day you want to eat there to make a reservation.  Might be a wait.  But really good seafood.